Operating mechanism for pressing machines



Aug. 25, 1931. E. DAVIS I 1,820,052

OPERATING MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 3. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. MW

BY $4M A TTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1931. E. DAVIS l$820,052

OPERATING ,MECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Filed Jan, 3, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS,

Patented Aug. 25, 1931 UNITED STATES ERNEST DAVIS, F SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, 'ASSIGNOR TO THE PROSPERITY COMPANY,

PATENT OFFICE V INC., OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK OPERATING IvIECHANISM FOR PRESSING MACHINES Application filed January 3, 1927. Serial No. 158,493.

This invention relates to machines having an opening and closing movement and in which the closing of the machine is effected by power means and it has for its object a particularly simple and efficient controlling mechanism by which the machine is prevented from closing except when the opera tor or other persons are away from the machine or far enough away so that they can not have their hands between the coacting elements of the machine when the machine is closing.

The invention consists in the. novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a machine embodying one exempli- 'fication of my invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view, parts being omitted, of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view'partly in section of the power means and the controlling mechanism therefor.

I have here shown my invention as embodied in a pressing machine and more particularly in a garment and laundry pressing machine which comprises coact-ing pressing elements as a buck 1 and a head 2'movable toward and from the buck, power means for actuating the movable element, mechanism for controlling the actuation of the movable element by the power means including a con- :trolling member and an operating member connected to the-controlling memberythe operating member being in the form of a' barrier arranged in the pathof a person approaching the machine so as to be engaged by such person to operate the controlling and to operate said member to effect the closwalks away from the machine.

In the machine here illustrated, the means 50 4 between its ends to an'upright 5 rising ing of the press when the person or operator at one end to the toggle and at its other end i at 13 to the rod 14 of a piston 15 movable in the cylinder 16, the cylinder being pivoted to the frame at 17. The combined lever and pull link is'fulcrumed at 18 when the press is open as shown by the dotted lines, Figure l and during the initial part of the closing of the press, fulcrums on the point 18, and during the latter part of the closing movement, lifts off the fulcrum and acts as a pull link to straighten the toggle, it beingv guided in its movement by a cam slot 19 in which "works a follower 20 on the member 11. The

construction of this actuating mechanism forms no part of this invention and any other actuating mechanism may be substituted therefor.

Thepiston is single acting and the lever 3 has a counterweight 21 at its rear end which together with a spring or springs 22 open the press when the motive fluid is free to exhaust from the cylinder 16. The piston is'however, the prime mover as it lifts the weight 21 and also tensions the spring 22. The flow of motive fluid or air, from a suitable source of supply, to thecylinder 16 and the exhausting of the air from the cylinder is controlled by a valve mechanism consistin of a casing 23, a normally open intake va lve 2l in the casing and a normally operate as a unit. The valve casing .23 is connected to a suitable sourceof compressed air such as a pipe 27, and communicates with theouter air through an opening 28 v V controlled by the exhaust valve 25. member to effect the opening of the press The intake and exhaust valves 24 and 25 areactuated by a lever 29 pivoted at 30 to the'casing andbearing against a stem 31 of .exhaust valves 24: and'25 so that the intake 1 valve 24 opens and the exhaust valve 25 closes under influence of the spring 32 when the controlling member permits the spring 32 to act. An additional spring 33 acting on the intake valve and also the air pressure from the pipe 27 serves to close the intake valve 2% and open the exhaust valve 25 when the controlling member is in a certain position. The spring 33 is weaker than the spring 32.

The controlling member as here shown consists of a rod or slide 34: extending transversely of the rear side of the machine and guided in suitable brackets or bearings 35, this controlling member having a cam sur face which coacts with a follower or roller 36 on the lever 29. As here illustrated, the controlling member is formed with a notch 37 and with a plain surface 37a leading from the notch. Then the follower 36 is alined with the notch, the spring 32 is free to actuate the lever 29 to close the exhaust valve 25 and open the intake valve 24: so that air can pass through'a pipe 38 which connects the valve casing 23 to an intake passage 39 and port 39a in the head of the cylinder 16. WVhen the follower engages the plain surface 37a, the lever 29 is depressed to open the exhaust valve and close the intake valve permitting the piston to rise and the press to open under the influence of the weight 21 and spring 22. The controlling member 34 is acted upon by a returning spring 37 b tending to hold it in the position shown in Figure 3 in which the notch 37 is alined with the follower 36 and the intake valve 24: open and the exhaust valve 25 closed so that the press is either closing or in closed position.

The operating member which is in the form of a barrier, as here shown, consists of a flexible tape 40 preferably enclosing three sides of the machine so that it will be engaged by a person approaching either from the front or the sides of the machine, this tape running over suitable guide rollers -41 carried by brackets 42 and located far enough away from the machine so that a person can not reach far enough to have his or her hands between the pressing elements, and so that when the person approaching the machine engages the tape 40 and presses inwardly on it, the controlling member 34 will be pulled to the left, Figure 3 thus causing-the rod 34 to move the notch 37 out of .alinement with the. follower 36 so that the follower will ride upon the plain surface 37 a and open the exhaust valve 25 and close the intake valve 2% and hence effect the.

opening of the press. When such person moves away from the machine, the spring advantageous in that obviously, an operator can not be present at the machine when it is closing, and if anyone approaches within reach of the pressing elements during closing movement such closing movement will immediately be stopped and the press restored to open position.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, the combination of coacting pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, power means for actuating the movable element, a member for controlling the actuation of the movable element by the power means and a flexible operating member comprising a normally taut pull cord connected to the controlling member and spaced apart from the machine in the path of the body of a person approaching the machine.

2. In a pressing machine, the combination of coacting pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, means for actuating the movable element and means for controlling the actuation of the movable element by the power means comprising a controlling member and an operating member in the form of a barrier comprising a horizontal taut pull cord arranged in the path of the body of a person approaching the machine to be operated by such person and a returning means acting to resist movement of the controlling member and the operating member.

3. In a pressing machine, the combination of coacting pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, power means for actuating the movable element, meansfor controlling the actuation of the movable element by the power means comprising a controlling member normally in position to effect the operation of the power means to close the press and an operating member in the form of a barrier extending around the front sides of the machine and arranged in the path of the body of a person approaching the machineto effect the operation of the controlling memher to open the machine when the operating member is engaged by saidperson.

'4. In a pressing machine, coacting pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the'other, power means for actuating the movable element comprising a fluid motor, valve means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the motor,

a controlling member for actuating the valve means normally in position to operate the valveto permit motive fluid to flow to the motor to close the press and movable intoposition to effect the operation of said valve means to effect the opening of the press, a spring connected to the controlling member to return it to its normal position and an operating memberin the form of a barrier arranged in the path of the body of a person approaching the machine.

5. In a pressing machine, coacting pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other, power means for actuating the movable element comprising a fluid motor, valve means for controlling the flow of motive fluid to and from the motor, a controlling member for actuating the valve, means normally in position to operate the valve to permit motive fluid to flow to the motor to close the press and movable into position to effect the operation of said valve, means to eifect the opening of the press, a spring connected to the controlling member to return it to its normal position and an operating member in the form of a barrier comprising a substantially horizontal pull cord arranged in the path of a person approaching the machine, the pull cord being connected to the controlling member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name. at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and in the State of New York, this 20th day of November, 1926.

ERNEST DAVIS.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,820,052. Granted August 25, 1931, to

ERNEST DAVIS.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, line 87, claim 2, before the werd "means" insert the word power; and that the said Letters Patent should he read with t is eerrection therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease iii the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 3rd day of November, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

